POLL: Where did you go for undergrad and what medical schools accepted you?

[mclinkin94]

Where did you go for undergrad and what medical schools accepted you?

Also: Does it matter where you go for undergrad?

I will go to the University of Rhode Island-not very selective at all, will that decrease my chances?

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[mclinkin94]

This information is available here: mdapplicants.com



Yes and no. Academic excellence is recognized regardless of institution. Prestige may compensate in extreme cases for perhaps +/-0.1 points on your GPA. You should edit your other thread, rather than create a duplicate, or risk catching the negative attention of the moderators.



Not at all. Adcoms recognize excellence regardless of which undergraduate institution you attend.

Thanks!

 

[Roguelyn]

Where's the poll?

 

[MadRadLad]

I don't know if you're a big football follower, but here's an example:

Being a mediocre player from a BCS college conference doesn't mean a lot. You might be going up against better competition, but you didn't do a whole lot.

On the other hand, standout players from smaller schools or lower levels of football will always catch an NFL scout's eye because, well, they stood out.

There are hundreds of NFL players who played for traditionally mediocre college programs and have a ton of success in the NFL.

The point is - It's not about where you go. It's about what you do there.

 

[calisurfer19]

So MCAT/Step 1 = NFL Combine ---> Appalachian State here I come! 🙂

 

[MadRadLad]

So MCAT/Step 1 = NFL Combine ---> Appalachian State here I come! 🙂

What kind of battery does it take to shut up the Big House?

1 AA.

 

[Charles Darwin]

What kind of battery does it take to shut up the Big House?

1 AA.

 

[Grendarab]

What major are you taking? I'm probably going to the University of Rhode Island as well. 🙂

 

[NotAsking4Much]

Where did you go for undergrad and what medical schools accepted you?

Also: Does it matter where you go for undergrad?

I will go to the University of Rhode Island-not very selective at all, will that decrease my chances?

Just throwing a bone into the conversation.
I think if you're the best of the best,then yes it doesn't matter where you come from.
Realistically though, very few of us all were/are going to be the best of the best.

There might be a million reasons why, which I won't get into...but a majority of the top med schools have easily over 50%+ of their class coming from top 10-15 undergrad. Maybe it is that large undergrad institutions have better research, advising, opportunities, etc. It could also be a self-selection bias from the students themselves .

I think people like to think prestige doesn't play a role, but I think the subtle nuances that come with prestigious undergrads do matter.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

It's better to go to the less competitive school and graduate summa. It is no fun to be a little above average at a very competitive university, trust me. Going to any school will not "hurt" you as long as you do well. If you perform at an average level at an uncompetitive university then that will (and should) hinder your application. Students from competitive universities are not given any leeway unless their MCAT is sky high. When comparing two students with high numbers, the student from the prestigious university may be favored at highly ranked med schools, though this is a rule with many exceptions (so you're better off not worrying about it).

 

[MedBound1]

Where did you go for undergrad and what medical schools accepted you?

Also: Does it matter where you go for undergrad?

I will go to the University of Rhode Island-not very selective at all, will that decrease my chances?

If a correlation is what you're looking for, you aren't likely to find one...

 

[mclinkin94]

What major are you taking? I'm probably going to the University of Rhode Island as well. 🙂

I'm majoring in Microbiology. You?

I'm from Cranston 😉

I was stuck in the decision between URI and Boston University, and I picked URI because it is much cheaper and I thought I would be able to get better grades therein rather than Boston University (known for grade deflation). How good do you think my choice is anyone? I would rather not have 200k+ debt as undergrad.

 

[Dbate]

If this was a concern, you made the right choice. You have to choose the school that's the best fit for you. Grade deflation, however, shouldn't factor into your decision unless you react negatively to competition. Adcoms are aware of BU's reputation and take this into consideration when evaluating their applicants.

I doubt this.

I go to a pretty prestigious school (Yale) and judging from the stats of REJECTED students ( 3.55 cGPA, 3.49 sGPA, 32 MCAT for alumni and 3.5 cGPA, 3.33 sGPA, 28 MCAT for graduating seniors) medical schools couldn't care less about the "prestige" or rigor of your undergrad institution.

Although, as a caveat, the chart does indicate that reapplicant students got admitted to medical school with much lower numbers.

http://ucs.yalecollege.yale.edu/sites/default/files/med_school_applicant_profile.pdf

 

[TheMightySmiter]

My info can be found in my MDapps. I don't think my undergrad made a difference, other than probably getting me an interview at my alma mater (and eventual WL).

 

[mclinkin94]

I also didn't pick Boston University or Boston College because of what SDN says about the little significance of undergraduate schools on medical school admission. I still feel like I will grieve this decision, but yet again, I am not rich enough to afford BC or BU.

Is there any other proof you guys have on the insignificance or influence of undergraduate school on medical school significance.

The reason why I rejected the YALE data is because, if they got into Yale-they were naturally smart and they had good work ethics and that led to their acceptance. I'm afraid it is tough for anyone to really present proper data on this because someone who was a mediocre student in high school would most likely be a mediocre student in a mediocre undergrad. There really is no way to judge.

But I have heard stories of a friend who contacted a medical school,who came from a college that accepted an average ACT of a 22, and the person told him not to even apply because of where he came from. They didn't even bother to ask for this MCAT or GPA!

The thing is, the University of Rhode Island has an average ACT acceptance of a 22!!!! I got a 32, and I chose to go to the University of Rhode Island. Do you think I am wrong for doing that?

 

[ksun91]

Hey i'm a senior microbiology major at URI and I am applying this summer to med schools.

In my opinion, URI did a really good job preparing me for medical application. I would say opportunities (research, shadowing, volunteer) are much easier to find when you do have to compete against the rest of the school. It also a lot easier to standout like a lot of other have people said. Ive had many great teachers and its not like the chem, bio or orgo is different depending on where you learn it. We've also had two Goldwater scholars this past year. Plus if your instate you save a lot of money.

I have a 3.99 gpa right now and hopefully my mcat will be just as good. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[mclinkin94]

Hey i'm a senior microbiology major at URI and I am applying this summer to med schools.

In my opinion, URI did a really good job preparing me for medical application. I would say opportunities (research, shadowing, volunteer) are much easier to find when you do have to compete against the rest of the school. It also a lot easier to standout like a lot of other have people said. Ive had many great teachers and its not like the chem, bio or orgo is different depending on where you learn it. We've also had two Goldwater scholars this past year. Plus if your instate you save a lot of money.

I have a 3.99 gpa right now and hopefully my mcat will be just as good. Let me know if you have any questions.

It is very nice to hear about your experience in URI!! Best of luck in your MCATS and medical school admittance. Makes me feel so much better and excited. Are you enrolled in the Honors program by any chance? How difficult did you think your course=load was at URI microbiology. I feel like a major positive about URI is the fact that classes are efficient in teaching you well and at the same time gives you a very nice opportunity for a high GPA.

 

[lemonade123]

People say that undergrad institution doesn't really matter, but in terms of opportunities, the more prestigious undergrad schools will have more to offer. If you want to try out research, there are great (yet competitive) opportunities to do so with very bright professors/post-docs at a top 15, compared to the lesser opportunities at say, a state school. I go to a top 10, and though the level of competition gets frustrating at times, the competition pushes one to become a better applicant IMO. And the range of EC opportunities, I will stress again, is limitless if you have the drive to find and get involved with them.

 

[Dbate]

People say that undergrad institution doesn't really matter, but in terms of opportunities, the more prestigious undergrad schools will have more to offer. If you want to try out research, there are great (yet competitive) opportunities to do so with very bright professors/post-docs at a top 15, compared to the lesser opportunities at say, a state school. I go to a top 10, and though the level of competition gets frustrating at times, the competition pushes one to become a better applicant IMO. And the range of EC opportunities, I will stress again, is limitless if you have the drive to find and get involved with them.

Any large, brand name state school (UC-Berkeley, UMichigan, UVa, Texas) offers the exact same opportunities, if not more.

ECs are a piss poor reason to rationalize debt for an undergraduate education.

 

[mclinkin94]

Any large, brand name state school (UC-Berkeley, UMichigan, UVa, Texas) offers the exact same opportunities, if not more.

ECs are a piss poor reason to rationalize debt for an undergraduate education.

 

[Bumbl3b33]

People say that undergrad institution doesn't really matter, but in terms of opportunities, the more prestigious undergrad schools will have more to offer.

if you have the drive to find and get involved with them.

1) False. If you go to a less competitive school, students are likely to be as competitive, meaning you'll get all the badass stuff. That's what happened with me and all of my friends.

2) If you have the drive to find EC's that'll pay off any where but it will pay off 1000x more at a low-level school than an Ivy because more people are fighting over EC's.

On both points, I am a perfect example. The bottom line is working your ass off. Period. I got everrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy awesome opportunity in college--paid, unpaid, w/e. I even got a job on wall street my senior year because I had better creds than our best business/finance majors. I got a 29 on my mcat, yes, so i'm not SUPER smart--but because of my 3.78 gpa and kickass EC's, i'm told they will easily outweigh my MCAT flub and there were numerous examples from my school of poeple getting in with worse states and less impressive EC's.

Of course, if you HAVE to go to harvard, this is not sound advice.

 

[Kaputt]

No-name college ==> pretty good-name med school

I don't deny the extra opportunities or name-recognition perks of going to a top undergrad, but things will probably work out for you in any undergrad setting if you work hard and are smart enough. Small schools offer a lot of great things that large schools don't, like getting to know your professors, which is why I chose to go to a small school.

 

[mclinkin94]

1) False. If you go to a less competitive school, students are likely to be as competitive, meaning you'll get all the badass stuff. That's what happened with me and all of my friends.

2) If you have the drive to find EC's that'll pay off any where but it will pay off 1000x more at a low-level school than an Ivy because more people are fighting over EC's.

On both points, I am a perfect example. The bottom line is working your ass off. Period. I got everrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy awesome opportunity in college--paid, unpaid, w/e. I even got a job on wall street my senior year because I had better creds than our best business/finance majors. I got a 29 on my mcat, yes, so i'm not SUPER smart--but because of my 3.78 gpa and kickass EC's, i'm told they will easily outweigh my MCAT flub and there were numerous examples from my school of poeple getting in with worse states and less impressive EC's.

Of course, if you HAVE to go to harvard, this is not sound advice.

As much as I would love to agree with the bolded part, I disagree. The reason I say this is because, yes-less people are fighting for EC's at non-competitive schools,but more EC's are offered at more competitive schools. So you cannot necessarily assume that less competitive schools have less competition for EC's that dont exist.

Also I love the beauty of high GPA masking a lower MCAT. That is the beauty of less competitive schools.

You got a job on wall street??? Are you still interested in medicine by any chance?

 

[MathewsMD]

Just do your best wherever you go! And reputation is typically not a deciding factor regardless of where you go.